Xavi said Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid could be a game-changer for the team after their Clasico demolition at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. This is what he said.
Aubameyang scored two goals in Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Real Madrid. Ronald Araujo and Ferran Torres also scored for the Catalan side.
The match was supposed to test how far Barca had come under Xavi, and they passed with flying colors. The humiliation of their fiercest rivals shows that they are ready to compete for La Liga again next year.
A quote from Xavi: “It can change how things work now and shortly.” “We had a lot of chances, and we were better than Madrid. We were way better than them. We were right to score so many goals.”
READ MORE: Chelsea vs. Real Madrid; Manchester City vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Quarterfinals
Xavi said: Yes, Barcelona is back. “It can. This is the right way to go.”
So, even though the result doesn’t mean much in this year’s title race. A loss like this, at home and against Barcelona, will significantly impact Real Madrid.
It will go down in history with other Clasico thrashings, like when Barcelona beat Real Madrid 6-2 in 2009 under Pep Guardiola or beat them 5-0 at home in 2013.
Carlo Ancelotti’s future will doubt after Madrid lost tactically and technically to Barcelona, who were faster, slicker, and could have won by more.
“We played badly, and I planned the game badly,” said Ancelotti. “My heart goes out to the people who lost. Keep in mind, though, that we have to keep it all in perspective.”
Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy were both injured, so Real Madrid could have been a little lazy because they were already nine points clear at the top of the league. Sevilla had been held to a goalless draw by Real Sociedad.
But that won’t make up for a loss as significant as this one. The only thing that makes sense now is that Barcelona is still 12 points behind, but they have a game in hand.
Aubameyang scored two goals in the second half to make it 9 goals in 11 games for Barcelona. The Gabon striker looks like a great addition to the team in January.
In other words, Pedri was great again. But this was a night to look at the bigger picture, as Barcelona’s revival made its most significant move yet.
In January, Barca lost to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. Some people thought the Catalans were too happy about how close they came to losing.
In Gerard Pique’s words: “We are getting close.”
Before this, Barca had lost five straight to Real Madrid, so a win of any kind was the next step. A hammering like this could be a game-changer, giving Barca a massive boost of confidence, vindication for Xavi’s project, and hope for next season all at once.
‘We’re back!’
Soon after the game, Pique tweeted: “We are back.”
Eder Militao hit Pedri in the first minute of the game. That was the closest Real Madrid came to him all game.
As soon as Ferran Torres pulled back for Aubameyang, he slammed the ball into Thibaut Courtois’ goal. Then, Ousmane Dembele hit a curling shot that Courtois had to keep out of the back of the net.
In the 29th minute, Dembele raced around the outside of Nacho Fernandez and crossed for Aubameyang to head home.
Vinicius Junior could have changed the game if he had scored after being sent through. Marc-Andre ter Stegen was able to save because Vinicius Junior made a big mistake.
Instead, Ronald Araujo scored from a corner before half-time to make it 2-0 for Barcelona. After that, the humiliation began for the team.
David Alaba and Militao tried to make sliding tackles, but both failed. Aubameyang made a great flicked pass to Torres, who made no mistake.
People were unhappy when Pique’s ball went over the top, allowing Aubameyang to score the fourth in the 51st minute. Madrid thought they were safe because of the offside flag, but VAR stepped in, and the goal was allowed to stand.
Aubameyang, Torres, and Dembele could have done more to make Madrid look bad. Dembele missed after skipping in behind and holding off Militao.
It was then that Aubameyang went off; the victory had already been confirmed, and the stadium was quickly emptying of people.
